Tollywood actor-producer Mohan Babu and comedian Brahmanandam, whose names appeared in the controversial Telugu film ‘Denikaina Ready’ with the prefix ‘Padma Shri’, were directed by the Andhra Pradesh High Court on Monday to return the awards within a week.
The Court directed the film actors to give back the honour conferred by the Central Government, for misusing them in the movie.
The HC raised objection to using ‘Padma Shri’ in title cards in a wrong way and directed them to return the award honourably so that it could take a lenient view in its final judgment.
BJP senior leader N Indraseena Reddy filed a petition in the HC seeking direction to the Centre recommending annulment of Padma Shri award conferred on Mohan Babu and Brahmanandam in the year 2007 and 2009 respectively.
The petitioner contended, according to Article 18(1) of the Constitution, the national award does not amount to a title and cannot be used as a prefix or suffix.
He also pointed out that the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) too had granted certificate to ‘Denikaina Ready’ overlooking the ‘Padma Shri’ prefixed to the names of the actors in the title cards.
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